Half to william a



PATENT v`EOR(``F E. SMITII, OF HA'VERHILL, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- 'HALIF TO lVlLLlAM A. KNIPE, OF SAME PLACE.

LAST.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 395,668, dated January 1, 1889.

Application filed May 7, 1888. Serial No. 273,077. (Na model.)

T0 (LZZ whom, it may cmwern:

Be it known that l, GEORGE E. SMITH, of llaverhill, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful In'lprrwements iii Lasts, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has for its object .to provide a sectional last which,while rigid and adapted to fully lill and support a boot or shoe upper when in operatiye condition, is adapted to be readily contracted, so that it can be removed from the upper without straining the same.

The invention consists in a last divided transversel y at or near the shank into two sections, which are hinged together, and are formed so that the rear section,whieh includes the heels, can be swung upward and forward, and thus virtually shorten the last so that it can be readilyremoved from the boot or shoe, a looking or holding device being'provided which holds the heel-section rigidly in its operative relation to the fore part section when the last is in use, as l will now proceed to describe and claim.

Of the accmnpanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, l1`igure '1 represcnts a side elevation of a last embodying my invention. lflg. E2 represents a longitudinal section of the same. Fig. 3 represents a side elevation with the locking or holding device of the hcel-seetion removed and the heel raised. l `ig'.-Lreprescnts a himgituiflinal section showing a mmliicatimi of theheel locking or holding device.

The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in all the igures.

In carrying out my invention I make alast in two sections, a and Z), the section aincluding the fore part and the section Z) the heel of the last. Said sections are formed by dividing a solid last of the usual form transversel y, the division extending through and across the bottom of the last, and cutting away enough of the material between said sections to enable the heel-section when hinged to the fore part section to tip upward and forward, as shown in Fig. 3.

I prefe'r to cut out a wedge-shaped block, e, between the two Sections, the wide cnd of said block being at the top of the last and its apex near the bottom, thus formi ng a V-shaped opening between the' two sections when the block is removed and enabling the heel-section to tip upwardly, said block being utilized as the means for holding' the heel-section in operative position when the last is in use.

The two sections are permanently connected by a hinge, c, of any suitable construction, arranged to permit the described swinging movement of the heel-section. w

It will be seen that when the block. e is in place, as shown in Fig.1,the last is practically rigid, and is adapted to subserve its usual function; but when said block is removed the heel-section may be tipped upward and forward, as shown in Fig. 3, thus instantly relieving its pressure on the counter of the boot or shoe and depriving the last o f all longitudinal strain on the boot or shoe, so that the last may be easily withdrawn. The block e may be locked to the section co (or, if preferred, to the section b) by a spring-boli), fi, arranged diagonally in a socket in the last section and adapted to spring into engagement with a hole, j, in the block, the bolt being pressed in by a suitable tool inserted in the hole j when the block is to be removed. This looking device is not of my invention, but is used in looking the ordinary last-block to the ordinary last. Any other suitable device may be used to secure the block e. Ido not limit myself, however, t-o the use of the block e as the means for holding the heel-section. I have shown a modilication in Fig. 4:, in which the block e is dispensed with, and a segmental tongue, f, is attached to the section b and adapted to slide in a slot, 8, in the section a. Said tongue is provided with a springcatch, f which normally springs out and bears 011 the inner end of the section a, and thus causes the tongue `f to serve as a brace to hold the heel-section in place.

I elaim- 1. In alast, the combination of the sections a and b, connected by a hinge, c, and separated above said hinge by a V-shaped space, a block, e, formed to fill said space, and a locking device, wherebysaid block maybe detachi ably seourcd to one of the Sections, as set forth.

2. A last divided transversely through its body and bottom into two Sections, each having a solid bottom, said Sections being con- IOO neeted by ahnge at 01* near the bottoin p01' tion of the last,whereby the i'ear Section is enabled to swing upwai'd and forward, as Set fol'th.

3. In a last, the Sections (t and Z), connected by a hing'e or p'ivot located at or near the bottom of the last, whei'eby the section Z) is enabled to Swing' forward and npward, as shown, combined with a holder, whei'eby the section Z) may be i'ig'idlyseoui'ed in opei'ative relation to the section a, as set forth.

In testiinony Whereof have signed my name to this speeificath'm, in the pi'esonee ot'two sub- Sel'ibing witnosses, th is 30th day of April, A. D. 1 88,8.

J OSEPH H. INGHAM, ALICE INGHAM. 

